Auburn signs top JUCO running back

Auburn football has signed junior college running back Cameron Artis-Payne to a National Letter of Intent, announced head coach Gus Malzahn Wednesday.

The No. 1 JUCO running back in the country according to 247Sports, Artis-Payne spent the previous two seasons at Allan Hancock Community College in Santa Maria, Calif.

The 5-11, 220-pounder rushed for 2,048 yards and 25 touchdowns on 261 attempts this past season in just 10 games. He led the California Community College Athletic Association in rushing yards, yards per game, yards per rush and touchdowns, while earning conference player of the week honors on five occasions from the Southern California Football Association.

As a freshman in 2011, Artis-Payne ran for 1,364 yards and scored 18 touchdowns. He was named All-California First Team Offense in Region IV by the California Community College Football Coaches Association.

Artis-Payne is a native of Harrisburg, Pa., who graduated in 2008 from Milford Academy in New Berlin, N.Y.